1182 LAWS OF MARYLAND.

wise, of the streets, alleys and highways of the town, and to
levy taxes for the payment of any debt or obligation incurred by
or under any such contract or contracts; and said Burgess and
Commissioners are hereby further authorized and to grant the
use of the streets, alleys and highways of said town and to regu-
late the use of the same in the erection of any equipment for
such lighting of the town, as well as to grant the use of the
streets, alleys and highways of said town to any person or per-
sons, corporation or corporations, for the purpose of securing
lighting and power for domestic and manufacturing purposes,
and to regulate the use of the same in the erection of any
equipment for such lighting or furnishing of power for domes-
tic or manufacturing purposes, and to regulate the price to be
charged for light or power so furnished; provided, said grant,
franchise or contract be ratified by the qualified voters of said
town as hereinafter provided.

SEC. 295G. The said Burgess and Commissioners are hereby
authorized and empowered to enter into any contract with any
person or persons, corporation or corporations, for the purpose
of supplying the inhabitants of said town with water for do-
mestic purposes and to regulate the price to be charged there-
' for, as well as to contract with any person or persons, corpora-
tion or corporations, for supplying the town with water for
protection against fire, and to levy taxes for the payment of
any debt or obligation incurred by or under any such contract
or contracts; and the said Burgess and Commissioners are
hereby further authorized and empowered to grant the use of
the streets, alleys and highways of said town and to regulate
the use of the same in the erection of any equipment and in the
laying of any water pipes for said purposes; provided said
grant, franchise or contract be ratified by the qualified voters
of said town as hereinafter provided.

SEC. 295H. And be it further enacted, That no grant, fran-
chise or contract entered into or made under any of the three
preceding sections shall be binding or of any force until after
the same shall have been ratified by a majority of the qualified
voters of said town, voting at an election to be held not less
than twenty nor more than sixty days from the date of any such
grant, franchise or contract, notice of which election shall be
given and of the purpose thereof, for at least ten days prior to
the date of holding such election, by publication in one or more
newspapers published in Washington County, Maryland; such
election shall be by ballot, and the ticket at such election shall
be marked "For Proposed Proposition" and "Against Proposed
Proposition," and if at any such election the number of ballots
cast marked "For Proposed Proposition" shall exceed the num-